Re: Chemistry from a Baha'i perspective


"Matt Menge" <mspmenge@xxxxxxxxxxx> wrote in message
news:1136590144.666269.40480@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
"But how well could you treat a disease if you couldn't even name it?"

Hi Matt. Naming conventions generally hold that the name of an item should
refer to a definition of some sort. AIDs refers to a syndrome of
identifiable symptoms which was not all that useful until it was found to be
caused by the HIV (Human Immunodeficiency Virus) which was named by its
perceived affect on human health.

I am certainly not saying that naming is not a useful tool to help us
conceptualize a problem, but rather that the name itself is not the useful
tool. What is useful it the conceptual model that words and names allow.
Baha'u'llah's stupendous claims include that He is responsible for that
conceptual model, and I am (as a Baha'i) inclined to believe Him.

A tree is named and generalized into human language so that, most often, we
do not have trouble identifying an object as a tree, or not a tree. The
concept of "tree" is a useful concept that we use in building our
understanding of reality. And that is the purpose of words and names.

--Kent


...
>>>Moreover, often when the Writings refer to names they differentiate
>>>between
> words and names. A word helps define and specify processes and events
> in our
> world, while names familiarize our surroundings. With the words and
> names of
> our languages we build our surroundings.
>
> Dear Kent,
>
> I had never thought of that. My impression was that a 'word' can
> sometimes be something more subtle than a human word, as the Tablet of
> Hikmat states, the Word 'became manifest without syllable or sound'.
>
> "Know thou, moreover, that the Word of God--exalted be His Glory--is
> higher and far superior to that which the senses can perceive, for it
> is sanctified from any property or substance. It transcendeth the
> limitations of known elements and is exalted above all the essential
> and recognized substances. It became manifest without any syllable or
> sound and is none but the Command of God which pervadeth all created
> things." (Baha'u'llah, Tablet of Hikmat)
>
> Likewise 'human utterance is an essence which aspireth toi exert its
> influence and needeth moderation'. Generally, speaking I get the
> impression that when Baha'u'llah is talking about 'words' He means
> something a little bit more than commonplace language. I wonder if the
> same can be said of names.
>
>>>To me, that we can name something does not mean we can dismiss it.
>>>Doctors
> who can call a malady by a Latinized name cannot necessarily treat it.
> And
> that is my point. What good is chemistry or physics or anthropology if
> it
> begins in words and ends in words?
>
> No good at all, I would presume. But how well could you treat a
> disease if you couldn't even name it?
>
>
>>>The analogies that Baha'u'llah used to explain spiritual verities, as
>>>Christ
> did with parables, show us the order of the universe. We have seen the
>
> patterns in language and life, and now we can apply principles we have
> learned to a higher order if we can but comprehend what He is telling
> us.
>
>
>>>That is knowledge. That is applicable. It does not begin and end in
>>>words.
>
> I don't know what to say, Kent. No one was suggesting that Their
> Holiness Baha'u'llah or Jesus "begin and end in words".
>
> Chemistry tends to be a very materialistic science. I happen to be
> good at memorization. Other people can write long (good) essays with
> little thought or premeditation. We are all good at different things.
>
> Best Regards,
>
> Matt
>


.

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